Rooted in the Orange County community of Huntington Beach, California, founding band members Jared Watson and guitarist / vocalist Dustin Bushnell met in 1996 while in high school, embarking on a friendship based on music, as well as their shared passion for surfing, skating and the endless party of the laid-back SoCal lifestyle.
Early on, they spent many late nights jamming in Bushnell’s soundproof garage with a four-track recorder, writing unique acoustic hip-hop songs that featured reggae inflections. Inspired by the rock and reggae sounds of Bob Marley, Sublime, 311 and The Beastie Boys, the band’s music evolved into their distinct Dirty Heads style.
To complete the Dirty Heads’ sound, the duo added percussionist Jon Olazabal and drummer Matt Ochoa, both talented, experienced musicians. With a set of solid material, the Dirty Heads were further motivated to take their craft to the next level, and they began building a loyal fan base throughout the west coast, while performing acoustically at local bars and small music venues. As they started playing in neighboring Los Angeles, the band found it necessary to charter party buses so their fans could make the 30-mile trek to their shows.
Connecting with sought-after producers Steve Fox and Stan Frazier (Sugar Ray / Ashlee Simpson) the band worked long hours to polish their material and further develop their style. The Dirty Heads also recruited mixing engineer Mario Caldato Jr., best known for his work with the Beastie Boys, to add the finishing touches and create just the right blend.
The band’s highly-anticipated first full-length album is entitled, Any Port in the Storm (Released on EMG through Fontana, a division of Universal Music Group Distribution - September 2008). This debut features 14 tracks that are reminiscent of the upbeat, sun-soaked Southern California party energy. The first single is the optimistic, “Stand Tall.”
Any Port in the Storm also features one of the final recordings of the late music industry icon Billy Preston. Frequently referred to as “The Fifth Beatle,” Preston played on three tracks, including “Stand Tall,” “Chelsea,” and “Driftin.’ ” Other special guests on the album are drummer Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Sting, The Vandals), and veteran session percussionist Alex Acuna, whose A-list musician resume includes Peter Gabriel, Johnny Clegg, and Jackson Browne, to name only a few.
Recently, the band’s music has been attracting attention throughout the world of entertainment. Their songs have been featured in the movie and soundtrack for Surf’s Up (Sony 2007); and the television drama, Shark staring James Woods (CBS 2007. Actor Matthew McConaughey selected the band’s music to be in his upcoming film, Surfer Dude. In addition, the Dirty Heads can be heard in Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam video game (Activision 2007), and several other music compilations and surf/skate videos. On the marketing side, the Dirty Heads have also been included in campaigns for Etnies Jeans and Vestal Watches.
Dirty Heads vocalist Jared Watson sums up their fun, uncomplicated style, “We want to be positive and entertain,” he says. “We just want to make you feel good.”
And who can’t dig that?
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Celebrate
The Dirty Heads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
20,000 fans from the stage I'm standing on
I want you to know I appreciate it
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
Mom I gotta go, the curtain's calling
All the way from Rome, I'm really sorry
Tell my little sister I said hey
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
Yeah these late nights and these long drives
Full moons under dark skies
Tears fall behind phone screens
Lonely hearts lead to bad dreams
Wish that I could be there for you
I hope that life will be fair for you
It's hard to sleep 'cause I'm always thinking
And passing out off of codeine
And I hope you know that I'm not complaining
Hope you know I appreciate it
Every day is just filled with love
Man every day is just thanks and praises
But memories of your birthdays, they get me in the worst ways
When you say, "dad, it's okay"
When you get home we can celebrate
Mom if you can hear me, I think I made it
20,000 fans from the stage I'm standing on
I want you to know I appreciate it
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
Mom I gotta go, the curtain's calling
All the way from Rome, I'm really sorry
Tell my little sister I said hey
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
Not the money, not the fame
Love the struggle, love the pain
After all that we have gained
We realize we're all the same
Sacrifice my brothers cried
We've been gone when family died
Losing my focus, symphonies open
Singing my opus, just for a moment
One day I'll get home and we can throw a big party
Invite other people that helped us get started to
To all of you artists that feel a martyr
Don't ever give up, you just gotta go harder
Mom if you can hear me, I think I made it
20,000 fans from the stage I'm standing on
I want you to know I appreciate it
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
Mom I gotta go, the curtain's calling
All the way from Rome, I'm really sorry
Tell my little sister I said hey
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
Every night feels like another weekend
Keep pretending that it's easy
Sold my soul for a wrecking ball
I shot at the moon but I mostly fall
Mom if you can hear me, I think I made it
20,000 fans from the stage I'm standing on
I want you to know I appreciate it
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
Mom I gotta go, the curtain's calling
All the way from Rome, I'm really sorry
Tell my little sister I said hey
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
The Dirty Heads’ song “Celebrate” is a powerful tribute to the sacrifices and love of family, particularly mothers. The song tells the story of a musician who has achieved success and is performing in front of thousands of fans, but is still deeply connected to his family at home. The opening verse is directed specifically at the musician’s mother, with the lyrics “Mom if you can hear me, I think I made it / 20,000 fans from the stage I’m standing on / I want you to know I appreciate it / One day I’ll come home, we can celebrate.” The singer expresses gratitude for the support of his family and a desire to share his success with them. He promises to return home to celebrate with them.
The second verse of the song takes a more introspective turn, with the lyrics “Yeah these late nights and these long drives / Full moons under dark skies / Tears fall behind phone screens / Lonely hearts lead to bad dreams.” Here, the musician reflects on the challenges of his profession, including the difficulties of being away from loved ones and the emotional toll of a career in music. He also acknowledges the ways in which technology has made it easier to stay connected to family from afar, while at the same time heightening the sense of isolation and distance.
The chorus of the song repeats the promise of returning home to celebrate with loved ones, with the lyrics “Mom if you can hear me, I think I made it / 20,000 fans from the stage I’m standing on / I want you to know I appreciate it / One day I’ll come home, we can celebrate.” The final verse ends on a more hopeful note, with the musician reflecting on the shared struggles of everyone who pursues a creative career. He encourages his fellow artists to persevere, with the lyrics “To all of you artists that feel a martyr / Don’t ever give up, you just gotta go harder.”
Line by Line Meaning
Mom if you can hear me, I think I made it
The singer acknowledges that he or she has become successful and is grateful for the support of his or her mother.
20,000 fans from the stage I'm standing on
The singer is performing in front of a large crowd and is happy about it.
I want you to know I appreciate it
The singer expresses gratitude towards his or her mother for supporting him or her in his or her journey.
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
The artist looks forward to the day when he or she can return home and celebrate his or her success with his or her family.
Mom I gotta go, the curtain's calling
The artist has to leave because he or she has to perform and cannot stay longer.
All the way from Rome, I'm really sorry
The singer regrets not being able to be with his or her family physically to celebrate with them.
Tell my little sister I said hey
The singer wants to greet his or her little sister even though he or she cannot see her personally at the moment.
Yeah these late nights and these long drives
The artist is aware of the sacrifices he or she has to make in order to become successful.
Full moons under dark skies
The artist is often on the road performing under the night sky.
Tears fall behind phone screens
The artist is emotionally affected when talking to his or her family through phone calls.
Lonely hearts lead to bad dreams
The singer admits that being away from home for a long time can lead to sadness and nightmares.
Wish that I could be there for you
The artist wishes that he or she could physically be there for his or her loved ones.
I hope that life will be fair for you
The singer wants his or her loved ones to have a good life despite his or her absence.
It's hard to sleep 'cause I'm always thinking
The singer finds it difficult to fall asleep because he or she is always thinking about his or her family.
And passing out off of codeine
The singer sometimes relies on medication to help him or her fall asleep.
And I hope you know that I'm not complaining
The artist clarifies that despite his or her challenges, he or she is not complaining about his or her situation.
Hope you know I appreciate it
The artist reiterates his or her appreciation for his or her family's support.
Every day is just filled with love
Despite his or her struggles, the singer feels loved by his or her family and fans.
Man every day is just thanks and praises
The singer expresses gratitude for his or her blessings.
But memories of your birthdays, they get me in the worst ways
The artist is sad thinking about missing important events like birthdays with his or her family.
When you say, "dad, it's okay"
The artist remembers words of comfort from his or her child during a difficult time.
Not the money, not the fame
The artist's motivation does not come from money or fame.
Love the struggle, love the pain
The singer finds fulfillment in overcoming struggles and enduring pain for his or her passion.
After all that we have gained
Despite achieving success, the artist remains humble.
We realize we're all the same
The singer recognizes that everyone is equal and deserving of love and respect.
Sacrifice my brothers cried
The singer's family has also sacrificed in order to support him or her in his or her journey.
We've been gone when family died
The singer regrets not being able to be with his or her family during times of loss or difficulty.
Losing my focus, symphonies open
The artist gets distracted by the beauty of the world and its possibilities.
Singing my opus, just for a moment
The artist creates art and music as a means of expressing himself or herself in the moment.
One day I'll get home and we can throw a big party
The singer looks forward to celebrating his or her success with his or her family.
Invite other people that helped us get started to
The singer is grateful for the people who have supported him or her throughout his or her career and wants to invite them to the celebration.
To all of you artists that feel a martyr
The artist encourages other artists who may feel like they are struggling to continue pursuing their passion.
Don't ever give up, you just gotta go harder
The artist advises others to keep pushing themselves and working hard even when things get tough.
Every night feels like another weekend
The artist's days start to blend together because of his or her hectic schedule.
Keep pretending that it's easy
The singer recognizes that he or she is always working and that it is not easy to maintain a successful career.
Sold my soul for a wrecking ball
The artist has given up parts of himself or herself in order to succeed.
I shot at the moon but I mostly fall
The singer takes risks in order to achieve his or her goals, but sometimes those risks do not pay off.
One day I'll come home, we can celebrate
The singer continues to look forward to returning home and celebrating with his or her family.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DUSTIN BUSHNELL, JARED WATSON, JASON MERRIS BELL, JORDAN RAND MILLER, KYLE MORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Better Noise Music - ALT
Check out Dirty Heads' new music video - Life's Been Good https://bit.ly/DHLBG
justin kruszewski
I get teary eyed when my daughter sings this song with me...music is a special thing and there's no better way to bond with your kids than music. Keep up the good work fellas.
Bloody Boy4847
This song gets me sad but it is good
leonardo franco
dani cali vv
Swag Daddy Diego
One of the most gorgeous songs I’ve ever heard. Still love it to this day.
charmides898
I love this song so much and have listened to it nonstop since it came out - as a musician it’s a bittersweet feeling to have everything you wanted but everyone you love so far away and you feel it in this. I didn’t get even a 100th as big haha but I still remember the sheer joy of seeing my parents surprise turn up at one of my shows haha
Jason Cooley
Even though my mom passed back in 2014, this song makes it easier because I've completely turned my life around and I know she's proud of the man I've become.
loveandgamingx x
Mine in september, trying to do the same...
Lanie Peters
Same... Just at 19 years for me. A long time to be messing up. But she'd be mostly proud now!
Lukas Knell
I'm sad about that